The effect of metformin on clinical features of women with polycystic ovary syndrome

Introduction: Insulin resistance (IR) is one of the main features of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), and metformin is one of the most commonly prescribed insulin sensitizers in its treatment. Research carried out so far shows heterogeneous results on the effects of metformin on the hormonal and metabolic status of women with PCOS. The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of six-month treatment with metformin (2000 mg per day) on the hormonal and metabolic characteristics of women with PCOS, paired with healthy women by body mass index (BMI) and age. Material and Methods: A number of 20 women with PCOS [age: 23.5 ± 5.9 years, BMI: 24.8 ± 4.2kg / m2] and 20 healthy control group women were tested (age: 24.5 ± 5.3 years, BMI: 23.6 ± 3.0kg / m2). Polycystic ovary syndrome was diagnosed with ESHRE / ASRM criteria. Standard biochemical and hormonal parameters were determined, which were repeated in the PCOS group and after six months of metformin therapy. Insulin resistance was determined using a homeostatic model (HOMA-IR). Results: After six months of metformin therapy in the PCOS group, there was a significant increase in the frequency of menstrual cycle (65% versus 87%, p <0.001), reduction of the degree of hirzutism towards Ferrimann - Galway score (9.5 versus 8.5, p = 0.025), but after the therapy all parameters were still significantly different from the ZK group. After therapy, there was no difference in the concentration of triglycerides between PCOS and ZK (1.3 ± 0.7 versus 0.9 ± 0.4 mmol / L, p = 0.19), which were significantly higher in PCOS compared to ZK before therapy (1.4 ± 0.8 vs 0.9 ± 0.4 mmol / L, p = 0.03). There was no significant effect of BMI therapy, as well as on HOMA-IR and the concentration of androgens that were significantly higher in PCOS compared to ZK, while there was a favorable effect of metformin on the liver. Conclusion: Six-month treatment with metformin, at a dose of 2000 mg per day in women with PCOS, leads to a significant increase in the incidence of menstrual cycle, ovulation and reduction in the degree of hirsutism, as well as a beneficial effect on lipids and liver, and the independent effects of the drug on BMI and IR

Gojaznost i reproduktivna funkcija žene - mehanizmi nastanka i terapijske implikacije

Gojaznost se danas smatra uzrokom nastanka kardiovaskularne bolesti, tipa 2 dijabetesa, osteoartritisa, maligniteta, ali i faktorom koji doprinosi nastanku reproduktivnih poremećaja i problema plodnosti. Postoji povećan relativni rizik za nastanak anovulatornog infertiliteta u žena sa izraženom gojaznošću i produženo vreme do koncepcije. U žena u reproduktivnom periodu gojaznost je povezana sa povećanim rizikom za nastanak hiperandrogenizma i anovulacije, kao što je slučaj u sindromu policističnih jajnika (PCOS) kao najčešćem hiperandrogenom poremećaju. Postoji veliki broj dokaza u prilog postojanja bliskog odnosa adipokina, gojaznosti, metaboličkog sindroma i reproduktivnih posledica. Redukcija težine za 5-10% dovodi do poboljšanja u kliničkim, metaboličkim i reproduktivnim karakteristikama, kao što je slučaj u žena sa PCOS. Primena insulinskih senzitajzera vodi sniženju hiperinsulinemije, insulinske rezistencije, uspostavljanju normalne menstrualne cikličnosti i ovulacije kod značajnog broja žena sa PCOS. Gojaznost može uticati na stimulaciju ovulacije njenim produžavanjem, povećanjem doze gonadotropina, incidence folikularne asinhronije i prekida stimulacije. Hirurško lečenje gojaznosti predstavlja alternativni vid terapije u slučaju kada ni promena načina života ni farmakoterapijske mere ne daju povoljne rezultate. Za sada ne postoji dovoljno dokaza u prilog preporuke da se barijatrijska hirurgija koristi u lečenju gojaznih žena sa PCOS.Projekat ministarstva br. 175032 i br. 4100

Gojaznost i reproduktivna funkcija žene - mehanizmi nastanka i terapijske implikacije

Gojaznost se danas smatra uzrokom nastanka kardiovaskularne bolesti, tipa 2 dijabetesa, osteoartritisa, maligniteta, ali i faktorom koji doprinosi nastanku reproduktivnih poremećaja i problema plodnosti. Postoji povećan relativni rizik za nastanak anovulatornog infertiliteta u žena sa izraženom gojaznošću i produženo vreme do koncepcije. U žena u reproduktivnom periodu gojaznost je povezana sa povećanim rizikom za nastanak hiperandrogenizma i anovulacije, kao što je slučaj u sindromu policističnih jajnika (PCOS) kao najčešćem hiperandrogenom poremećaju. Postoji veliki broj dokaza u prilog postojanja bliskog odnosa adipokina, gojaznosti, metaboličkog sindroma i reproduktivnih posledica. Redukcija težine za 5-10% dovodi do poboljšanja u kliničkim, metaboličkim i reproduktivnim karakteristikama, kao što je slučaj u žena sa PCOS. Primena insulinskih senzitajzera vodi sniženju hiperinsulinemije, insulinske rezistencije, uspostavljanju normalne menstrualne cikličnosti i ovulacije kod značajnog broja žena sa PCOS. Gojaznost može uticati na stimulaciju ovulacije njenim produžavanjem, povećanjem doze gonadotropina, incidence folikularne asinhronije i prekida stimulacije. Hirurško lečenje gojaznosti predstavlja alternativni vid terapije u slučaju kada ni promena načina života ni farmakoterapijske mere ne daju povoljne rezultate. Za sada ne postoji dovoljno dokaza u prilog preporuke da se barijatrijska hirurgija koristi u lečenju gojaznih žena sa PCOS.Projekat ministarstva br. 175032 i br. 4100

Overweight and Obesity in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: Association with Inflammation, Oxidative Stress and Dyslipidemia

Objective: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is associated with altered lipid profile and increased small, dense LDL particles (sdLDL). Considering that paraoxonase 1 (PON1) is an anti-oxidative enzyme located on high-density lipoprotein (HDL) particles, the aim of this study was to investigate the connection between oxidative stress (OS) and PON1 activity with lipoprotein subclasses in PCOS depending on obesity. Methods: In 115 PCOS patients lipoprotein subclasses distributions were determined by gradient gel electrophoresis. OS status was assessed by total oxidative status (TOS), advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP), malondialdehyde (MDA), prooxidant-Antioxidant balance (PAB), total antioxidant status (TAS) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) and PON1 activity. Results: Overweight/obese PCOS patients (n=55) had increased OS compared to normal weight patients (n=60). In addition, overweight/obese group had lower HDL size and higher proportion of HDL 3a subclasses (P<0.05). PAB was in negative correlation with HDL 2a (P<0.001), whereas MDA and SOD correlated positively with HDL 3 subclasses (P<0.05). Serum PON1 activity was positively associated with proportions of PON1 activity on HDL 2b (P<0.05) and 2a (P<0.01), but negatively with the proportion on HDL 3 particles (P<0.01). LDL B phenotype patients had increased TAS, SOD and PON1 activity on HDL 2b, but decreased PON1 activity on HDL 3 subclasses. Conclusion: OS is associated with altered lipoprotein subclasses distribution in PCOS patients. Obesity in PCOS affects the profile of HDL subclasses, reflected through the reduced proportion of PON1 activity on HDL 3 subclasses in the presence of sdLDL particles.Peer-reviewed manuscript: [https://farfar.pharmacy.bg.ac.rs/handle/123456789/3974

A decade in female reproduction: an endocrine view of the past and into the future.

Over the last decade, huge achievements have been made in the fields of neurophysiology, molecular endocrinology, and biochemistry, as well as in the successful translation of clinical research into diseases into clinical practice. As regards female reproduction, most of the advances made in this area were achieved in gonadal axis regulation, regulation of behavior through sex steroids, reproductive genetics, preservation of ovarian reproductive function, steroid profiling, and metabolic and overall reproductive outcomes. The coming years are expected to bring further understanding of the relationships between nutrition, energy metabolism, and reproductive function and to succeed in identifying new genetic markers linked to adverse metabolic and unfavorable cardiovascular outcomes in women. From our perspective, future research in the field of female reproduction should be directed toward doing research into genetic reproductive abnormalities and neuroendocrine diseases, pathophysiology, long-term health outcomes for oligo/amenorrhea, hyperandrogenism, and ovulatory dysfunction. It is additionally expected that a better understanding will be gained of the endocrinology of the placenta and of pregnancy, the role of the microbiome in female reproduction, the role of insulin sensitizers, anti-obesity and anti-diabetic drugs, and various advances in the prevention of ovarian damage caused by various oncology therapies, while new therapeutic options for the treatment of infertility, including kisspeptin, will be developed

Health-related quality of life questionnaire for polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOSQ-50): a psychometric study with the Serbian version.

This study aimed to analyze the measurement properties of the Health-related quality of life questionnaire for polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOSQ-50) in a sample of Serbian women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Seventy-six women with PCOS from an endocrinology clinic and 28 healthy women participated between October 2016 and March 2017. The measure was rigorously translated and culturally adapted into Serbian. Psychometric evaluation included descriptive analysis, internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha coefficient), test-retest reliability (intraclass-correlation coefficient - ICC) and construct validity testing. Cronbach's alpha coefficient ranged from 0.67 to 0.96 for domain scales of PCOSQ-50 scores, while the ICCs for test-retest reliability for these domains ranged from 0.66 to 0.89. Women with PCOS had significantly lower scores than healthy women for hirsutism, obesity and menstrual disorders and the total PCOSQ-50 scale score (p ≤ 0.03), but not for the psychosocial and emotional, fertility, sexual function, and coping scales. These results show that the Serbian PCOSQ-50 measure is acceptable and could produce reliable and valid assessments of PCOS-related quality of life for at least four out of seven domains. Considering that validity testing is an iterative process, additional work is needed before the whole measure is used in routine clinical practice

5α-dihydrotestosterone treatment induces metabolic changes associated with polycystic ovary syndrome without interfering with hypothalamic leptin and glucocorticoid signaling

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrinopathy in women of reproductive age. It is a heterogenous disorder, with hyperandrogenism, chronic anovulation and polycystic ovaries as basic characteristics, and associated metabolic syndrome features. Increased secretion of leptin and leptin resistance are common consequences of obesity. Leptin is a hormone with anorexigenic effects in the hypothalamus. Its function in the regulation of energy intake and consumption is antagonized by glucocorticoids. By modulating leptin signaling and inflammatory processes in the hypothalamus, glucocorticoids can contribute to the development of metabolic disturbances associated with central energy disbalance. The aim of the study was to examine the relationship between hypothalamic leptin, glucocorticoid and inflammatory signaling in the development of metabolic disturbances associated with PCOS. The study was conducted on an animal model of PCOS generated by a continual, 90-day treatment of female rats with 5α-dihydrotestosterone (DHT). The model exhibited all key reproductive and metabolic features of the syndrome. mRNA and/or protein levels of the key components of hypothalamic glucocorticoid, leptin and inflammatory pathways, presumably contributing to energy disbalance in DHT-treated female rats, were measured. The results indicated that DHT treatment led to the development of hyperphagia and hyperleptinemia as metabolic features associated with PCOS. However, these metabolic disturbances could not be ascribed to changes in hypothalamic leptin, glucocorticoid or inflammatory signaling pathways in DHT-treated rats. [Projekat Ministarstva nauke Republike Srbije, br. III41009

Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Patients with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrine disease in women during the reproductive period. True PCOS phenotype is prone to develop metabolic consequences during life. Obese PCOS women with insulin resistance are carrying a risk for developing type 2 diabetes, and influencing liver function by generating liver steatosis and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Moreover, serum testosterone of over 3 nmol/L is associated with at least two-fold higher risk for the development of NAFLD in PCOS women. Numerous genes involved in the pathogenesis of hyperandrogenism, insulin resistance and inflammation are associated with the development of NAFLD in PCOS women. Liver biopsy is not considered as the first line procedure for the diagnosis of liver damage in a prevalent condition as PCOS. Therefore, simple and reliable surrogate markers as serum aminotransferases levels or surrogate indexes (i.e. fatty liver index and NAFLD-fatty liver score) could be used for the assessment of fatty liver in PCOS women. First line therapeutic approach for NAFLD in PCOS includes a change in lifestyle that implies dietary regiment and physical activity but without well-defined protocols. Second line therapy considers addition of drugs on the established lifestyle change. Metformin remains the drug of choice for reduction of insulin resistance and liver enzymes level. Liraglutide, glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists, showed favorable effects on the reduction of liver fat content and visceral adipose tissue in overweight women with PCOS. Current review analyzes the impact of metabolic risk factors, diagnostic approach and management options on NAFLD in women with PCOS

Possible involvement of glucocorticoids in 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone-induced PCOS-like metabolic disturbances in the rat visceral adipose tissue

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a reproductive and metabolic disorder characterized by hyperandrogenism, ovulatory dysfunction, visceral obesity and insulin resistance. We hypothesized that changes in glucocorticoid metabolism and signaling in the visceral adipose tissue may contribute to disturbances of lipid metabolism in the rat model of PCOS obtained by 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone (DHT) treatment of prepubertal female Wistar rats. The results confirmed that DHT treatment caused anovulation, obesity and dyslipidemia. Enhanced glucocorticoid prereceptor metabolism, assessed by elevated intracellular corticosterone and increased 11 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 mRNA and protein levels, was accompanied by glucocorticoid receptor (GR) nuclear accumulation. In concert with the increased expression of GR-regulated prolipogenic genes (lipin-1, sterol regulatory element binding protein 1, fatty acid synthase, phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase), histological analyses revealed hypertrophic adipocytes. The results suggest that glucocorticoids influence lipid metabolism in the visceral adipose tissue in the way that may contribute to pathogenesis of metabolic disturbances associated with PCOS. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved

Predictors of Subclinical Cardiovascular Disease in Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: Interrelationship of Dyslipidemia and Arterial Blood Pressure

Background. Women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) could develop subclinical atherosclerosis during life. Purpose. To analyze cardiovascular risk (CVR) factors and their relation to clinical markers of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in respect to their age. Material and Methods. One hundred women with PCOS (26.32 +/- 5.26 years, BMI: 24.98 +/- 6.38 kg/m(2)) were compared to 50 respective controls. In all subjects, total cholesterol (TC), HDL-C, LDL-C, triglycerides, TC/HDL-C and TG/HDL-C ratios, glucose, insulin and HOMA index, waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP and DBP, resp.), and carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) were analyzed in respect to their age and level of androgens. Results. PCOS over 30 years had higher WHR (P = 0.008), SBP (P < 0.001), DBP (P < 0.001), TC (P = 0.028), HDL-C (P = 0.028), LDL-C (P = 0.045), triglycerides (P < 0.001), TC/HDL-C (P < 0.001), and triglycerides/HDL-C (P < 0.001) and had more prevalent hypertension and pronounced CIMT on common carotid arteries even after adjustment for BMI (P = 0.005 and 0.036, resp.). TC/ HDL-C and TG/HDL-C were higher in PCOS with the highest quintile of FAI in comparison to those with lower FAI (P = 0.045 and 0.034, resp.). Conclusions. PCOS women older than 30 years irrespective of BMI have the potential for early atherosclerosismirrored through the elevated lipids/lipid ratios and through changes in blood pressure.Ministry of Science and Education, Republic of Serbia {[}175032, 41009